Mughal emperor Shahjahan built 14 gates at different places in Delhi, Turkman Gate is one of them.
The historical Turkman Gate located in the national capital Delhi is in discussion these days. People not only illegally occupied the government land near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque located near it, they even constructed on it. This matter related to encroachment reached Delhi High Court. On the orders of the court, when the officers along with the police team arrived to remove the encroachment, a large number of people created a ruckus. The police have arrested many people in this case, who have been sent to jail in judicial custody by the court.
Let us find out in the name of this controversy who was Shah Turkman, in whose name this Turkman Gate was built and which Mughal emperor had given this name?
Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani was a Sufi saint.
Shah Turkman’s full name was Shah Turkman Bayabani. He was a Sufi saint and is known as Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani. It is said that Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani was one of the first Islamic saints who settled in Delhi. However, when he settled there was no settlement there. There were hills and forests all around. That is why he was known by the name Bayabani. Bayabani is the name of one who lives in the forest. His tomb was built at the place where Shah Turkman had settled.
Tomb of Shah Turkman built in Delhi.
According to historians, this tomb is quite old. Even around 1250 AD, the tomb of Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani existed. Today this place is situated near Turkman Gate in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. His tomb has now been converted into a huge glass building. From whose ceiling are hanging chandeliers covered with net.
The name was given by Mughal emperor Shahjahan
When the Mughal emperor Shahjahan shifted his capital from Agra in the year 1638, he established a new city from Shahjahanabad, which we know today as Delhi. According to the needs of the capital, Shahjahan built the fort, which we recognize as the Red Fort. Apart from this, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk Bazaar etc. were also constructed during the time of Shahjahan. The construction of Red Fort and Jama Masjid was completed by the year 1648. After this, formal work started from Shahjahanabad as the capital of the Mughal emperor.
Turkman Gate is one of the 14 gates which were built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
After this, Emperor Shahjahan built 14 gates at different places for the security of Shahjahanabad. These include Ajmeri Gate, Lahauri Gate, Mori Gate, Delhi Gate and Turkman Gate. Since Turkman Gate was built near the tomb of Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Turkman, the Mughal emperor named it Turkman Gate. Now this gate is an important part of Chandni Chowk area and has been quite famous for decades. A fair is organized here every year on the death anniversary of Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani. During this time thousands of people gather at the tomb.
Turkman Gate was built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan.
Case registered under Indian Justice Code
Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque is situated near this Turkman Gate, near which the team that had come to remove the encroachment was targeted. Police have so far arrested 11 people in this case. In this case, Delhi Police has registered a case under several sections of the Indian Justice Code, including obstructing government employees during public work (Section 221), assault on government employees to prevent them from carrying out official work (Section 132), deliberate attack on government employees (Section 121), rioting (Section 191).
Bulldozer action near Turkman Gate
Police say that during the removal of encroachment, 150-200 people threw stones and glass bottles at the police and Delhi Municipal Corporation personnel. Delhi Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Vivek Kumar said that encroachment has been removed from about 36 thousand feet area. During this period, a diagnostic centre, a banquet hall and two boundary walls were demolished.
Clean up of encroachment campaign
VIDEO | Water being sprinkled as clearing of debris continues following an anti-encroachment drive near Turkman Gate in Delhi.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Delhi pic.twitter.com/9HDhvJLqfw
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 9, 2026
There was a campaign against encroachment earlier also
This is not the first time that bulldozers have been used to remove encroachment near Turkman Gate. In 1976, during the tenure of the Congress government, Sanjay Gandhi, son of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had ordered the removal of settlements around Turkman Gate. It is said that Sanjay Gandhi wanted Jama Masjid to be clearly visible from Turkman Gate. Even at that time there was a lot of opposition during the action. Even many people had died. Then hundreds of families from around Turkman Gate had to shift to areas like Mangolpuri and Trilokpuri. Now once again Delhi High Court has ordered to remove encroachment and illegal construction around Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque located near Turkman Gate. It is said that there is illegal occupation of about 39,000 square feet of land here.
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